Good Dads Podcast

We talk with Ethan Bryan, an author and baseball fan, about how "play" is helpful for mental health. Playing catch and getting outside can battle loneliness and be good for positive social activities.

Our Guest: Ethan Bryan

Ethan is best known for playing catch 365 days in a row. He is an author and avid baseball fan as well as a father.

Show Notes

• "Why is mental health related to playing catch?" (3:40)
• "Playing is an activity that encourages trust." (6:00)
• "Loneliness. A great epidemic, mostly among men. So I want you to talk about how you found people to play catch with. What was their reaction when you asked them to play catch with you?" (10:01)
• "Playing catch develops your 'interceptive timing.'" (15:40)

Resources:

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ethanbryan.com Ethan posts a weekly blog on his website. He is also tackling another 365 days of playing catch in 2024!

We talk with Dr Chris Ward about how we can recognize signs of depression - life style changes and losing interest in some of our favorite activities. Also Dr Ward talks about how we can form new healthy coping skills and new healthy habits.

Drew Dilisio, a mental health counsler at Good Dads, shares his personal story about OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and recognizing mood and anxiety in everyday life.

Dr Brent Anderson, a clinical psychologist for the military in West Point New York, talks about counter balance thoughts (negative thoughts vs strength and balance) in our part "two" conversation about men's mental health.

Dr Brent Anderson, a clinical psychologist from the military from West Point New York, talks about how to handle change, behaviorial interventions, and "FML..." Fun. Mastery. Love.

We welcome the Ogunyemi Brothers, Dr Clement Ogunyemi and Major Olaolu Ogunyemi, to share their personal journey with mental health (depression, anxiety, and self esteem). Also they talk about their book "Three Day Mental Health Guide: Major Payne Edition."

Our Guests: Dr. Clement Ogunyemi and Major Olaolu Ogunyemi

Clement has a doctorate in Business Administration and Finance, has published a book on finance, and is a father of two.

Olaolu is a Major in the US Marine Corps, a children's author, and a father of three.

Show Notes

• "We are talking to you today because of a book that was written that tells your stories." (3:15)
• "I have nothing to be ashamed of, because this is going to help someone down the line who is strugglign with XYZ [mental health struggles]." (8:46)
• "Olaolu, how did you get invovled in this [the book], what was your reaction when you heard from Clement? Where were you in all of this?" (9:30)
• "I've shared with, I don't know how many people, my journey and how it's ok to seek help, it's ok to admit 'I am not perfect, I don't desire to be perfect, but what I do desire is to do better every day." (16:50)
• "What we're trying to draw out, in a funny way, is to show how, as mentors, parents and as fathers, we can help our children by understanding what their needs are. That's why we use the character Major Pain." (20:50)

Resources:

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The Good Dads blog

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The Ogunyemi's website

We talk with Dr. Ryan Maid, a professional baseball therapist from Kansas City, about creating a positive identity with a group of like-minded men and being a part of a "tribe."

Our Guest: Dr. Ryan Maid

Ryan works in professional baseball in Kansas City. With a background in psychology, Ryan joins the podcast to share insights on how he has been involved in helping men with mental health issues.

Show Notes

• "When people feel a part of something bigger themselves, some of those barriers and access to care tend to reduce because you can be yourself within your tribe without judgment." (2:40)
• "For those individuals in general, men, who can't pinpoint that something is going on... what would you say to someone who maybe is a little bit off or what would you tell someone around someone who's suffering from certain mental health issues, especially for men?" (7:45)
• "I'm wondering how you think, oh let's say with a parenting issue or relationship issue, if things aren't going well... how men may differ from women?" (12:08)
• "It's finding a way, how a man wants to be listened to... It's through experience, and doing, and activity." (19:35)

Resources:

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We talk with Thomas Janousek, from the Nebraska Department of Mental Health, about picking a therapist that "fits you" or that you are comfortable with. Thomas also talks about the assessment of men's mental health and how it is such an important part of guiding men in the right direction.

Our Guest: Dr. Thomas Janousek

Thomas is the Deputy Director for Clinical Excellence at the Nebraska Department of Mental Health. Prior to that, he worked as a psychologist for 10 years, working mostly with assessment and also with individuals, couples and families.

Show Notes

• "With a testing piece, with it being more objective, it really allows us to say, 'Hey what's real and what's just kind of the normal human experience?'" (3:47)
• "Therapy differs from assessment because in an assesement, I'm usually working with you for about five hours, I'm doing an interview to get your history and back story, and then I'm throwing out a number of tests to kind of tease out some of those things I'm finding in that history." (7:05)
• "A lot of people don't think that they can shop around [for a therapist] and they don't understand how important that relationship is. Like if you don't make a good connection with your therapist, you need to get a new therapist. And you can usually figure that out within one or two sessions." (11:03)
• "If you're having a hard time feeling that safety to articulate yourself, that can be a huge barrier. The other one I typically see is just the general stigma with mental health. And again, that's another barrier that applies to both men and women." (12:30)
• "And I think they don't even recognize it [depression] in themselves sometimes. They may be experiencing the loss of interest in things that they once loved to do, but they don't understand that that really is depression." (20:46)
• "The other thing, and I think it's probably more relevant now following the pandemic, is the effect that unemployment can have on a man and how that can be a chronic stressor." (25:15)

Resources:

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Dr Jennifer Baker and Drew Dilisio talk about highlighting men's mental health all year in 2023. How we can help identify and guide men to get the guidance they need for their families.

Show Notes

• "For men, from what I've seen, they come in and they talk about physical things. So, my chest feels really tight, or my shoulders, or I can't sleep or I'm drinking so much coffee because I have to be doing something with my hands. It's definitely more a physical representation of an internal problem." (3:15)
• "Once you do give them the opportunity to just talk, I've had guys that say, 'I don't know what I'm going to talk about.' And I just say, 'Oh that's ok, I'm just here to listen.' And by the end of the hour, they're saying, 'I didn't realize I had this much to talk about.' ...When you give them the space, it's there. They just don't know how to express it." (7:18)
• "We are going to discuss, one of these months, the social aspect. I think, specifically with men, that's something we're seeing... Men will come in and say, 'Oh yeah, I have all that physical stuff down, but I'm still depressed.' And I go, "Ok, well what support systems do you have?' And the first question is, 'What's a support system?'" (15:50)

Resources:

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We talk with Dr Mike Dawson, the Executive Director of Instruction at Branson Public Schools, about the role of fathers and education and being an educated role model to our children.